Book reviews, mostly of Christian fiction, some classics, and nonfiction.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

From the Start - Walker Family 1 - by Melissa Tagg

About the book:
Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While
her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her
from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major
career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running
back to her hometown of Maple Valley.

Permanently sidelined by
an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding
out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all
he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to
adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal
before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big
risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately
need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance
to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to
ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best
thing that's ever happened to them?

My review:
This was another winner for Melissa Tagg! I loved the characters; it was so fun having Kate be a writer of romance movies. I also loved the references to classic movies, such as Bringing Up Baby, which is one of my favorites. Kate and Colton both felt very real, in personality and struggles to know what's next. They both struggled with finding purpose, which I think we all struggle with at one time or another. I loved the whole Walker family, along with the townspeople and Kate's friends. I'm so glad we're going to be seeing more of them in books to come. There were some cute romantic moments, though I did wish for a bit more. They both were believers, though questioning what they should do in the future and not really praying about it. I liked some of the good advice they received and how that turned around. There's also a bit of a mystery about what Colton went through as a child where he can't remember and sometimes experiences flashbacks. I found that pretty interesting. There was quite a lot about football, so I think this story could also be appreciated by guys who enjoy that. I liked the amusing moments and witty banter. I highly recommend this well-written story!

I received a kindle copy of this book free from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Author

Melissa Tagg

Melissa Tagg, author of Made to Last and Here to Stay, is a former newspaper reporter, current nonprofit grant writer, and total Iowa girl. When she's not writing, she can be found hanging out with the coolest family ever. She's passionate...

About Me

I'm an avid reader, movie and TV watcher, and music listener. I love to travel and went to Europe last fall for the first time! I also joined a book club last fall and I've read a lot of great books so far. I worked at a Christian bookstore for many years and now work in an office. I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, my two cats, just relaxing and having fun!